Seventh grade students will continue to explore the development of human culture and society by looking at extraordinary individuals as well as ancient civilizations. They will also continue to develop their critical thinking and research skills.
Unit: Medieval Trade Routes– An examination of important trade routes in Medieval society and the importance of these routes as conduits for social interaction. (E.g. the silk road, Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, Plano Carpini)
Significant Unit Assessment: Students will prepare an annotated map that is research based and includes original text and graphics/images.
- Specified word count for annotations
- Specified graphic quality/detail
- Clearly established research parameters (see Research Guidelines)
- Detailed time divisions (by era, century, decade, year, etc.)
- Bibliography in standard MLA format
Unit: Ancient Civilizations– A look at the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome. Students will explore the foundations of Western civilization as well as significant social and political developments.
Significant Unit Assessment: Unit Exam– Respond to questions about a visual stimulus (map, chart, etc) and draw comparative conclusion; short answers in complete sentences or short paragraphs.
Unit: Historical Biography– An examination of important figures in history who have had a significant impact on the course of human events from a variety of perspectives: social, political, technological, military, etc.
Significant Unit Assessment: Biographical Essay– Students will write an essay assessment that adheres to the following structure:
- 800-1000 words
- Student/teacher developed research questions
- Outline (see Outlining handout)
- Bibliography in standard MLA format
- Draft required with teacher feedback
- Sources beyond class readings
- Topic informed by unit
Unit: Changing Environments– A look at how humans interact with their environment and how the environment is changed by human interaction as well as how people have adapted to their environments over time.
Significant Unit Assessment: Students will complete an oral presentation that adheres to following structure:
- Group/pair presentation
- Appropriate eye contact
- Proper posture
- Proper voice projection
- Clarity and accuracy of language (English mechanics and grammar)
- Must clearly communicate key words, main ideas, and simple conclusions
- Glossary provided to students by teacher
- Bibliography in standard MLA format
Geography Skills: Students in seventh grade should continue their geography skills by incorporating geographical data into their general work. Maps should form a significant component of the Medieval Trade Routes unit or Ancient Greece and Rome unit, or both.
Assessment Criteria
Grade 6 • Grade 7 • Grade 8 • Grade 9 • Grade 10 (PDFs, 66-70 KB)
